Ask many of today’s pop and R ’n’ B artists to name someone who had a profound effect on them as a youngster and there’s a high chance Billy Ocean will appear near the top of their list.

Famed for a string of pop hits in the 1980s, his songs connected with an audience on a worldwide level and it's little surprise he should roll one of the dates of his current tour into a city known for its appreciative nature.

Hove's town hall may not be famed for hosting live gigs but its walls played host to a sold-out show from a seasoned and world-renowned solo artist.

The audience purposefully chose to ignore bouncers' pleas to return to seats, instead insisting on dancing in the aisles. This was all about letting go of the nine-to-five existence and embracing a party-like atmosphere.

Separated into two parts, the near two-hour performance was a lesson in how to entertain an audience by a seasoned master.

Often shuffling or dancing across stage, the grey-haired Lothario would regularly depart, reach out and then delicately kiss the women gathered at the front or gracefully pose for selfies.

Songs such as the all-out pop of Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car or the slow-paced love song Suddenly still sound fresh.

Choosing to encore with the soulful vibes of Caribbean Queen and Love Train no doubt left some with a sense that, although some of these songs may be three decades old, for a short time at least, they were temporarily reunited with their youth.

Mike Burnell